Pencil holder



J1me 1954 M. AVSHARIAN ETAL 3,135,393

PENCIL HOLDER Filed Sept. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EEL INVENTORS MICHAEL AVSHARIAN OLSEN Ann: STEPHENSON m'ronusvs BYMICHAELA AVSHARIANJQ.

June 2, 1964 M. AVSHARIAN ETAL 3,135,393

PENCIL HOLDER Filed Sept. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 59 ELEE INVENTORS MICHAEL AVSHARIAN BY MICHAEL AVSHARIAN,JR

United States Patent 3,135,393 PENCIL HQLDER 1504 Brooklyn Ava, Ann Arbor, Mich. Filed Sept. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 138,090 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-120) This invention relates generally to holders for pencils, pens, and similar items and more particularly to a combination holder and spring clip which can be mounted on a variety of supports.

It is desirable to have pencils, pens and the like available in a variety of locations. For example, it is desirable to have a pen or pencil available near a telephone at all times. Also, it is very desirable to have pencilsclose at hand to music stands, calendars, auto sun visors, and the like. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a holder for pencils and the like whichis a unitary part of a spring clip that can readily be attached to a supporting surface so that the pencil or similar article is at all timesin a position adjacent the particular supporting surface so that it is readily available for use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combination holder and spring clip assembly which consists of a minimum number of parts, is easy to assemble, is readily adaptable to different supporting surfaces and will hold a plurality of articles such as a pencil in a position in which they are readily available for use.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combination holder and spring clip assembly of this invention, illustrated in a position installed on a conventional desk telephone;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the combination holder and spring clip assembly of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the combination spring clip and holder of this invention;

FIGURE'4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the spring clip and holder assembly of this invention,

shown in a position installed on a music stand;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the modified form of the assembly of this invention shown in FIG. 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a side view of another modified form of the holder and spring clip assembly of this invention.

With reference to the drawing, the holder and spring clip assembly of this invention, indicated generally at 10,

- ber 16 is formed of wire and has a plurality of convolutions 20. The spring 16 is initially formed or stressed so that it normally assumes a position in which the convolutions 20 are spaced apart, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,

l a distance slightly less than the width of a conventional wood lead pencil. Consequently, when a pencil is inserted between a pair of adjacent convolutions 20, the adjacent convolutions 20 tend to spring toward each other to thus hold the pencil on the spring 16. The spring 16 is thus of a given length, when it assumes its normal 3,135,393 Patented June 2, 1964 position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in which the convolutions 20 are spaced apart, but may be compressed to a shorter length by manually squeezing the ends ofthe spring toward each other so as to move adjacent convolutions 20 into engagement with each other.

The combination spring clip and spring supporting unit 18 consists of an elongated base member 22 (FIG. 2) which is provided at one of its ends with an extension 24 that is return bent upon the top side of the base member 22 to a position in which it is substantially parallel to and spaced from the base member 22. By virtue of the spaced substantially parallel relationship of the base member 22 and the extension 24, a space or channel 26 is formed between the base member 22 and the extension 24 and the channel 26 has an open end 28. As shown in FIG. 3, the channel 26 is of a Width greater than the diameter of the wire in the spring 16. The extension 24 is of a length less than the length of the base 22 so that the terminal end 32 of the extension 24 is located intermediate the ends of the base 22.

The opposite end of the base member 22 is provided with an integral lateral projection 30 which is spaced from the terminal end 32 of the extension 24 a distance greater than thecompressed length of the spring 16 and a distance less than the extended or normal length of the spring 16 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lateral projection 30 terminates in a substantially U-shape spring clip member 34 which is integral with the projection 30. The spring clip 34 includes leg portions 36 which are bent toward each other and stressed so that they are normally in engagement as shown in FIG. 3.

In the assembly of the combination holder and spring clip of this invention, the spring 16 is compressed and is then moved to a position between the projection 30 and the terminal end 32 of the extension 24. On release of the spring 16 it assumes its normal length shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and extends into the channel 26 and is confined between the closed inner end 38 of the channel 26 and the projection 30. The assembly 10 is readily installed on any supporting surface which can be moved into the spring clip 34 to a position in which the legs 36 grip opposite sides of the support. It is installed on the telephone 12 by merely moving the telephone side wall 14 downwardly between the clip legs 36 which spring into engagement with 10 on the telephone 12. The top side 40 of the base member extension 24 provides a convenient surface to which information, such as the telephone number, advertising, or the like may be applied by a suitable label.

The modified forms of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are particularly adapted to be applied to supports which project generally upwardly as contrasted to the downwardly projecting wall 14 on the telephone 12 shown in FIG. 1. For example, in composing, teaching, directing or playing music, it is often desirable to have a pencil accessible to the music stand such as the stand indicated generally at 50 in FIG. 4 which has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined music supporting surface 52 and an upwardly and forwardly projecting shelf 54 at the lower end of the surface 52. The modified form of the holder and clip assembly of this invention indicated generally at 10a in FIGS. 4 and 5 is identical to the assembly 10 previously described in that it includes the spring 16, the base 22 and the base extension 24. The assembly 10a differs from the assembly 10 in that the projection 30a on the base member 22 is of a generally V-shape having an apex 56 and forms one leg of an inverted U-shape spring clip 53 which is integral with the projection 36a and includes an opposite leg 6% which isadjacent and is spring biased toward the apex 56 of the projection Eda. The assembly 10a is particularly adapted for support on relatively thick surfaces such as the shelf 54 on a wooden music stand. Consequently, the spring clip leg 69 is normally spaced sutficiently from the apex 56 of the projection 30a and the clip 58, which includes a wide loop shape portion 59, is deep enough to accommodate the thick wooden shelf 54. The shelves 54 on wooden stands frequently are provided with an ornamental bead strip,

such as the strip shown at 61 in FIG. 4, and the'portion 59 is of a shape to accommodate such a strip. In the assembly 10a, the projection 33a is in axial alignment with the spring 16 so as to retain the spring 16 on the base memberv22 as in the assembly 10 in which the projection 30 is substantially axially aligned with the spring 16. The lower side of the spring clip 58 is open to adapt the assembly 10a for support on generally upwardly extended surfaces.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6, and indicated generally at 16319, is identical to the assembly 10:: except for the shape of the spring clip 53:; which is much narrower than the spring clip 58- which includes the broad loop shape portion 59. The clip 58b includes a lateral projection 30b on the base 22 and a substantially straight leg 62 spring biased into engagement with the apex 64 of the projection 30b which is of substantially V-shape. The unit 101) is adapted for support on thinner surfaces such as the shelf 54 on a metal music stand. The spring clip 58b likewise has its lower end open to adapt the spring assembly 5819 for support on surfaces which extend generally upwardly.

From the above description it is seen that this invention provides a holder and spring clip assembly which consists of only two parts, namely, the spring in and the spring clip and spring holder unit 18. In all forms of the invention, the spring 16, once it is assembled on the unit 18, is confined between the inner end of the channel 25 and a projection on the base member 22, and in the modified forms of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 the projection also forms one leg of a spring clip, the configuration of which depends on the disposition of the supporting surface to which the assembly is to be applied. Once the assembly is installed, it provides a holder for a plurality of pencils or the like so that these items are readily available for use.

It will be understood that the holder which is herein length of said spring and substantially less than said predetermined spring length, said spring being supported on said base member so that it extends into said channel and is confined between said channel and said projection, and spring clip means formed integral with said projection.

2. A holder for pencils and the like comprising a coil spring stressed so that it normally assumes a position in which its convolutions are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said spring being of a predetermined length when said convolutions are spaced said predetermined distance and being compressible to a shorter length in which said convolutions are in engagement, an elongated base member separate from said spring, said base member being of a greater than said predetermined length and having a pair of ends, said base member having an integral extension at one end thereof which is return bent upon said a laterally extending projection on said opposite end of disclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is: j

1. A holder for pencils and the like comprising a coil spring stressed so that it normally assumes a position in which its convolutions are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said spring being of a predetermined length when said convolutions are spaced said predetermined distance and being compressible to a shorter length in which said convolutions are in engagement, an elongated base member separate from said spring, Said base member being of a length greater than said shorter length and having a pair of ends, said base member having an integral extension at one end thereof which is return bent upon said base member and is disposed in a'spaced substantially parallel relation with said base member so as to form an open end channel therebetween of a width greater than the diameter of the wire in said spring, said extension terminating short of the opposite end of said base member so that its terminal end is spaced from said opposite end, a laterally extending projection on said opposite end of said base member disposed in a spaced relation with the terminal end of said extension a distance greater than said shorter said base member disposed in a spaced relation with the terminal end of said extension a distance greater than said shorter length of said spring and substantially less than said predetermined spring length, said spring being supported on said base member so that it extends into said channel and is confined between said channel and said projection, and generally U-shape spring clip means having the legs thereof urged toward each other formed integral with said projection and in substantially axial alignment with said spring.

3. *A holder for pencils and the like comprising a coil spring stressed so that it normally assumes a position in which its convolutions are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said spring being of a predetermined length when said convolutions are spaced said predetermined distance and being compressibleto a shorter length in which said convolutions are in engagement, an elongated base member separate from said spring, said base member being of a length greater than said predetermined length and having a pair of ends, said base member having an integral extension at one end thereof which is return bent upon said base member and is disposed in a spaced substantially parallel relation with said base member so as to form an open end channel therebetween of a width greater than the diameter of the wire in said spring, said extension terminating short of the opposite end of said base member so that its terminal end is spaced from said opposite end, a' laterally extending projection on said opposite end of said base member disposed in a spaced relation with the terminal end of said extension a distance greater than said shorter length of said spring and substantially less than said predetermined spring length, said spring being supported on said base member so that it extends into said channel and is confined between said channel and said projection, and said projection terminating in a spring leg which is return bent upon said projection and cooperates therewith to form a spring clip.

4. A holder for pencils and the like comprising a coil spring stressed so that it normally assumes a position in which its convolutions are spaced apart a predetermined distance, said spring being of a predetermined length when said convolutions are spaced said predetermined distance and being compressible to a shorter length in which said channel and is confined between said channel and said projection, and a generally U-shape spring clip member integrally formed with the terminal end of said projection and disposed in substantially axial alignment with said spring, said spring clip member having leg portions which are spring biased toward each other for engagement with opposite surfaces of a support for said holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 488,009 Housser Dec. 13, 635,121 Bostrom Oct. 17, 1899 642,277 Adair Jan. 30, 1900 984,381 Marshel Feb. 14, 1911 1,293,002 Benton Feb. 4, 1919 2,238,532 Nothe Apr. 15,1941 2,530,470 Kenly Nov. 21, 1950 2,605,624 Halladay Aug. 5, 1952 2,745,619 1956 Osborne May 15,

UNITED STATE PATENT @FFECE QERTIFICA'TE @F @ECTIUN Patent No 3, 135,393 June 2 1964 Michael Avsharian et 131 It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent shouldread as corrected belowv Column 4, line 14 before greater insert length Signed and sealed this 20th day of October 1964.

SEAL littest:

ERNEST w; SWIDER EDWARD J, BRENNER Aitesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A HOLDER FOR PENCILS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A COIL SPRING STRESSED SO THAT IT NORMALLY ASSUMES A POSITION IN WHICH ITS CONVOLUTIONS ARE SPACED APART A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, SAID SPRING BEING OF A PREDETERMINED LENGTH WHEN SAID CONVOLUTIONS ARE SPACED SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE AND BEING COMPRESSIBLE TO A SHORTER LENGTH IN WHICH SAID CONVOLUTIONS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT, AN ELONGATED BASE MEMBER SEPARATE FROM SAID SPRING, SAID BASE MEMBER BEING OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN SAID SHORTER LENGTH AND HAVING A PAIR OF ENDS, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING AN INTERGRAL EXTENSION AT ONE END THEREOF WHICH IS RETURN BENT UPON SAID BASE MEMBER AND IS DISPOSED IN A SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION WITH SAID BASE MEMBER SO AS TO FORM AN OPEN END CHANNEL THEREBETWEEN OF A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE WIRE IN SAID SPRING, SAID EXTENSION TERMINATING SHORT OF THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BASE MEMBER SO THAT ITS TERMINAL END IS SPACED FROM SAID OPPOSITE END, A LATERALLY EXTENDING PROJECTION ON SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID BASE MEMBER DISPOSED IN A SPACED RELATION WITH THE TERMINAL END OF SAID EXTENSION A DISTANCE GREATER THAN SAID SHORTER LENGTH OF SAID SPRING AND SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN SAID PREDETERMINED SPRING LENGTH, SAID SPRING BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER SO THAT IT EXTENDS INTO SAID CHANNEL AND IS CONFINED BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL AND SAID PROJECTION, AND SPRING CLIP MEANS FORMED INTEGRAL WITH SAID PROJECTION. 